Sports Mouth Guards

Did you know that the first known use of mouthguards was in the 1920s when boxing became the first sport to require them? Today, the American Dental Association recommends the use of custom mouthguards in 29 different sports and exercise activities, including martial arts, football, lacrosse, skateboarding, and mountain biking! Forgetting your mouthguard at home could increase your risk of tooth injury by 60 times, so make sure you’re properly protected.

What to Look for in a Sports Mouthguard

There’s a lot of science that goes into designing a good mouthguard: what sort of collision they need to absorb, mouth size and shape, hard teeth, and soft gums. A proper mouthguard is made of strong, tear-resistant materials and fits properly. What does proper fitting look like? It doesn’t restrict your breathing, is comfortable, covers all your teeth including all the back ones, stays in the right shape, and doesn’t taste like anything. Only custom fitted mouthguards can offer you all these crucial factors for the best protection!

Types of Sports Mouthguards

There are three main types of mouthguard: stock, boil-and-bite, and custom-fitted. Stock mouthguards are ready to wear, but bulky, uncomfortable, and not very effective. Boil-and-bite mouthguards are made of thermoplastic material that softens when put in hot water. While soft, you shape them around your teeth, and then they harden into place. These are better than stock protectors, but we still recommend you get custom fitted mouthguards. They’ll give you the best possible protection, be more comfortable, and last longer than either stock or boil-and-bite mouthguards. Custom-fitted mouthguards aren’t hard to find either, your friendly, Forest Lawn and Inglewood dentist at Concept Dentistry can help create yours.

Effectiveness of Sports Mouthguards

A properly fitted custom mouthguard does work to reduce injuries. Without a mouthguard, you run a higher risk of injury to your mouth and teeth. Potential injuries include soft-tissue damage to your lips, gums, tongue, and cheeks. You could end up with chipped or broken teeth, loose or knocked out teeth, or nerve damage. While a mouthguard isn’t magic protection, the Academy of General Dentistry estimates that mouthguards prevent more than 200,000 injuries annually in the U.S. That’s a lot of injuries that didn’t happen!

Mouth Guard Maintenance

Although mouthguards look completely solid, they are actually highly porous. This means you need to take good care of them, both for your own health, and to extend the life of the guard. Make sure to rinse it before and after each use, or scrub it with your toothbrush and paste just like your teeth! Store and transport the mouthguard in a strong container that has good ventilation so it doesn’t get mouldy, and keep it out of the sun. Periodically, check it for wear and tear so you can replace it when necessary.

If you or your child are playing a sport where you need mouth protection, come to us for a custom fitted mouthguard that will feel comfortable and help prevent injury. We’re easy to get to for your first appointment since we’re located right in the heart of Forest Lawn and serve Forest Heights, Valleyview, Dover, Erinwoods, Mayland Heights, Inglewood, Southview, Marlborough, and Crossroads!